Health care attitudes and experiences during gynecologic care among lesbians and bisexuals.

Abstract

Bisexuals (N = 424) and lesbians (N = 1,921) were surveyed regarding their sources of gynecologic care, utilization patterns, openness with physicians, and assessment of quality of care. About 40 per cent of each group believed that physician knowledge about their sexual preference would hinder the quality of medical care and about as many believed that it would have no effect. About one-third in each group had not disclosed their sexual behavior although they desired to do so. Physicians rarely requested this information. A lesbian physician was overwhelmingly preferred IntroductionComprehensive health care depends in part on the quality of the physician-patient relationship: the degree of trust in the physician has been correlated with number of

Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women Who Have Sex with Women

“…Twenty-three percent of the 1925 respondents in the National Lesbian Health Care Survey reported having had their last Pap smear 12 years previously; 5% of all respondents and 23% of women aged 17-24 years had never had a Pap smear [28]. Possible reasons for reduced use of health care by WSW include the perception of alienating behavior on the part of health care providers [9,28,[30][31][32][33] and lack of health care coverage [29,34]. Self-perception of low risk for STD and cervical cancer and reduced need for birth control among WSW may also contribute to fewer visits to providers that perform Pap smears [35].…”

Under What Conditions do Lesbians Disclose Their Sexual Orientation to Primary Healthcare Providers? A Review of the Literature

“…Findings were inconsistent regarding the impact of certain provider sociodemographics-sexual orientation (particularly, having a sexual minority HCP) and gender (particularly, having a female HCP)-on disclosure. In a few studies, factors other than sexual orientation or gender, such as comfort with one's healthcare provider (see next section on patient-provider relationship), were considered more important for disclosure to occur (Smith, Johnson, & Guenther, 1985). In a few studies (see White & Dull, 1998), sexual orientation of the practitioner was not as relevant for the selection of good practitioners as was, for example, ease of communication between patient and provider (see next section on patient-provider relationship).…”

Healthcare Preferences Among Lesbians: A Focus Group Analysis

“…7,[9][10][11] Although some authors have pointed to access problems (e.g., lack of insurance) as key barriers to healthcare, 4,6,7 others have concluded that negative experiences with the healthcare system promote avoidance of care. 9,12,13 To inform interventions designed to address such disparities, more information about the healthcare preferences of lesbians is needed.…”